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See a sample rate comparisonCPT 88185 Fee Schedule
Medicare rates as of October 2026
CPT 88185 is classified under Pathology and Laboratory Procedures, in the Cytopathology Procedures subgroup.
Mark Finding In Cell Study, Flow Cytometry Examines Cells Within A Stream Of Fluid. The Technique Uses Light Emissions To Collect Information. This Is Useful In Detecting Specific Disease Characteristics.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Service Type | Pathology and Laboratory Procedures Cytopathology Procedures |
| Common Place of Service | 81 - Independent Laboratory 11 - Office |
| Common Modifiers | 91 - Repeat Lab Test 59 - Distinct Procedural Service |
| Complexity Level | Low |
| Medicare Fee Schedule | $23.05 national non-facility rate (2026) · View Medicare rates for 88185 |
| Medicaid Fee Schedule | $19.91 median of the 8 states in the free preview · View Medicaid rates for 88185 |
National average reimbursement for CPT 88185 by major payers:
$32.94
BCBS / Anthem
$26.20
UnitedHealthcare
$32.74
Aetna
$58.89
Cigna
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CPT 88185
5 of 25 sample ratesHigher to lower in this preview
Luis Acosta
$91.54Published rateVijay Bhaskar Gayam
$28.36Published rateEsmail Elwazir
Texas Digestive Disease Consultants
$24.78Published rateMuhammad Ahmad
Christus Trinity Clinic
$22.37Published rateJermaine Clarke
North Texas Gastroenterology Associates PLLC
$13.43Published rate
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See a sample payer proposalCPT 88185 vs. Other Cytopathology Procedures Codes
The table lists codes related to 88185. Select one to see its fee schedule.
| Code | Complexity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 88182-CPT | Low | Cell Study Using Fluid, Flow Cytometry Counts Examines And Sorts Cells Within A Stream Of Fluid. The Technique Measures Visible And Fluorescent Light To Collect Information. |
| 88184-CPT | Low | Mark Finding In Cell Study, Flow Cytometry Examines Cells Within A Stream Of Fluid. The Technique Uses Light Emissions To Collect Information. This Is Useful In Detecting Specific Disease Characteristics. |
| 88185-CPT | Low | Mark Finding In Cell Study, Flow Cytometry Examines Cells Within A Stream Of Fluid. The Technique Uses Light Emissions To Collect Information. This Is Useful In Detecting Specific Disease Characteristics. |
| 88187-CPT | Low | Doctors Analysis Of Study, Physician Interpretation Of Flow Cytometry. Flow Cytometry Detects Specific Disease Characteristics By Marking Cell Components With Fluorescent Dye And Examining Their Light Emissions Within A Stream Of Fluid. |
What is a fee schedule?
A fee schedule is a list of fixed prices that healthcare providers charge for specific services, including CPT 88185. These prices vary depending on payer type (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance), geographic location, and provider contracts.
Understanding the 88185 fee schedule helps patients estimate costs and providers optimize billing for accurate reimbursements.
Factors that affect fee schedules
Medicare & Medicaid Rates
Government-set reimbursement amounts
Private Insurance Rates
Negotiated rates between providers and insurance companies
Geographic Location
Costs may be higher in urban areas.
Provider Type
Hospital providers may have different rates than private practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
CPT 88185 is an add-on code for each additional marker in flow cytometry, technical component only. Flow cytometry measures cell surface, cytoplasmic or nuclear markers, for example to classify leukemia or lymphoma.
The first marker is reported with 88184 and each additional marker with one unit of 88185. The pathologist's interpretation is billed separately with 88187 to 88189, depending on the number of markers.
Medicare pays CPT 88185 under the Physician Fee Schedule. The non-facility rate applies when the service is done in an office and covers the practice's staff, supplies and equipment; the lower facility rate applies in a hospital or surgery center, which bills its own facility fee. Both are adjusted for the local cost of practice. Commercial payers negotiate their own rates, often as a percentage of Medicare, so the same code can pay very differently from one contract to the next.
This page lists the rates commercial payers have published for CPT 88185 in their Transparency in Coverage files, so you can compare payers and see where a contract falls. For government benchmarks, PayerPrice also has the Medicare fee schedule lookup and Medicaid fee schedules by state.